Truss member and method of making same



- 25 ,A. c. M coRo 'rnuss MEMBER AND METHOD OF MAKING saws Filed Feb. 7,1924 3 She ets Sheet 1 flue/21b)" \g Li /M (MY-Yard Jan. 7

. A. C. M CORD TRUSS MEMBER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Feb. 7 SSheet s-Sheet 2 1/, 4 III 192 l 615 307 Jan 25 7 A. c. M CORD TRUSSMEMBER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Feb. '7, 1924, 3 Shoots-Sheet 5fiuwzir EJ55 007 6 /7 0 iii Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

ALVIN C. MOCORD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TRUSS MEMBER AND METHOl) OF MAKING SAME.

Application filed February 7, 1924. Serial No. 691,154.

This invention relates to truss members,

particularly adapted for use as side framesand bolsters for car trucksand for such other car parts requiring truss members of the character towhich my invention has reference.

Among the objects of my invention is to form these members from slittedone-piece bars or blanks of rolled steel folded lengthwise on themselvesat their unsevered portions where the parts of the members areintegrally connected to provide integral structures possessing theadvantages of cast steel forms as heretofore used as to reduction ofparts, but overcoming the unyielding rigidity and weight of cast steelby gaining lightness of weight for the same loads and the flexibility ofspring action of the rolled metal.

Another object of my invention is to make the upper arch bars orcompression members of the truss members, when used for side frames,shorter than the lower arch bars or tension members so that the floorsof the cars maybe built closer to the roadbed for increasing their loadcarrying space without raising the heights of the cars above thatestablished for standard by the Master Car Builders Rules.

A further object of my invention is to secure the journal boxes to thefolded end sections of the side frames either by bolts or by casting thetops of the boxes to said end sections when boxes having pressed steelcellars and cast steel tops are used.

My invention also has reference to the manner in which the blank or barsare slit and the method of folding and bending the same to produce orform said truss members.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the followingspecification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich--- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a flat bar or blank slit inaccordance with my invention and from which the truss member is formed;

Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, are perspective views illustrating the varioussteps through which the blank or bar of Fig. 1 passes to form the trussmember into side frame form;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the side frame with journal boxes securedthereto;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the structure of Fig. 6:

Fig. 8 is a side view of one end of the side frame, showing how the endsof the tie bar sections are flattened and overlapped under the bottom ofthe journal boxes, instead of the arrangement .shown in Figs. 4 to 7Fig. 9 is an end view of the side frame of Fig. 8;

Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are top plan, side and bottom views,respectively,of the side frame showing another manner of securing the ournal boxesthereto;

Figs. 13 and 14 are vertical sectional views on lines 1313 and 1 l14,respectively, of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 15 shows another way of having the tie bar sections engage ajournal box.

The truss member of my invention is formed from a flat bar or blank 1,which, as shown in Fig. l, is rectangular in shape and preferably ofrolled steel. Slots 2, 3 are cut through the bar substantially parallelto each other and to the side edges of the bar. The slots 2, 2 are theoutside ones and are on opposite sides of the slots 3, 3. There are fourof the slots 2, 2, all of the same length, with two at each end of thebar or blank 1 and opening through the end edges thereof, as shown inFig. 1. The slots 2, 2 at one end of the bar are aligned with thecorresponding ones at the other end of the bar and have their inner endsterminating short of each other at points intermediate the ends of theslots 3, 3. The slots 3, 3 have the same length and have their endsterminating short of the end edges of the bar, as shown in Fig. 1.

The slots 2 and 3 divide the bar or blank 1 into a mid-section 4 andside sections 5, 5 and 6, 6. hen the truss member formed from the blankor bar 1 is used as a side frame for car trucks, the midsection 4constitutes the upper arch bar or compression member, and the two sidesections 5, 5 become the lower arch bar or tension member, while theoutermost side sections 6, 6 form the tie bar. The unsevered sections7,7 at the ends of the blank between the slots 2, 2 form the parts ofthe side frame structure to which the journal box is secured, as willhereinafter more fully appear.

After slitting the bar or blank 1, the midsection 4: and its adjacentside sections 5, 5 are bent out of the plane of the blank on the sameside thereof and given the final shape of the lower arch bar. The tiebar sections 6, 6 are left unbent and they are carried out of the planeof the blank 1 with the side sections 5, 5, the end sections 7 7remaining in the plane of the blank. This makes the blank shorterthrough the mid-section 4, as indicated in Fig. 2 by noting thedifference in length between the blank through the mid-section 4: andthe length of the tie bar sections 6, which still retain the originallength of the blank or bar 1.

The tie bar sections 6, 6 are next folded over on the side sections 5, 5along the line of metal integrally connecting the same between the endsof the slots 2, 2. The blank now appears as in Fig. 3. The next step ofmy method consists in folding the metal blank or bar 1 on itself on itsend sections 7, 7 in line with the slots 3, 3, as indicated by dottedlines a, a in Fig. 3. This is accomplished by swinging the side sections5, 5 and their connected tie bar sections 6, 6 on that side of the planeof the end sections 7, 7 opposite the mid-section 1. The blank or bar 1now appears as in Fig. 4 and the inner side edges 5, 5 including thefolded edges 0, c of the tie bar sections 6, 6, are in abuttingrelation, as shown in that figure. At this time the sections 5, 5 havethe same shape as the mid-section 4 and both extend to a like extent onopposite sides of the plane passing between them and containing the endsections 7 7 the latter being new formed of a double thickness of metalby the end portions of the sections 5, 5 or marginal portions of the endsections being folded under the mid-portions thereof on lines a, a, asshown in said Fig. 4. The inner edges d, d of these folded portions abutor are closely opposed, as shown in said figure.

For truck frame purposes, the mid-section 4c is now heated and flattenedor upset toward the sections 5, 5 to bring the midsection 4 in the planeof the end sections 7, 7 or just above the same, depending on the designWanted for the side frame and the distance that the floor of the car isto be above the roadbed. When upsetting the mid-section 4, the endsections 7 7 are held -by a die or other apparatus to preventlengthening of the folded element, thus causing the excess metal in themid-section l to expand laterally and make said section wider at itscenter, as shown in Fig. 5.

The folded bar or blank 1 now appears as in Fig. 5, and the end sections7, 7 are provided with a pair of holes 8, 8 to receive bolts 9, 9 forholding between the end sections 7 and tie bar sections 6, journal boxes10, 10. The folded end sections 7 extend over the tops of the boxes,while the tie bar sections 6, 6 extend under the bottoms of the same,where they are weleed together so as to prevent their separation andprovide anchorage for the lower ends of the bolts 9, 9 which passthrough bolt holes 8, 8 therein. The extreme outer ends of the sections6, 6 are first cut off to make them have a length of the side framethrough the end sections 7, 7 and the outer ends of the sections 6, 6are brought up sulliciently to properly engage under the bottoms of thejournal boxes 10, 10, as required for side frame purposes. 1

suitable center structure (not shown) will be employed between the upperand lower arch bars 4 and 5 as needed for side frame uses.

Instead of having the tie bar sections 6, 6 welded together assuggested, they may be flattened out in their planes, as shown in Figs.8 and 9. As there illustrated, flattening the end portions f, f of thesections makes them considerably wider than in Fig. 4, and with theirflattened ends overlapping provides anchorage for the box bolts 9, 9without welding of the sections together, as shown in Fig. 6.

When the folding process reaches Fig. l, the tie bar sections 6, 6 arelonger than the side frame through its folded end sections 7, 7 andextend outward beyond the same at the ends of the side frame. Instead ofcut-- ting off these projecting ends as suggested for Figs. 5 to 9 andusing bolts 9 for secur ing the journal boxes in place, I may use theseprojecting ends for that purpose and thus dispense with these boltsafter the metal of the upper arch bar 4: has been upset to shorten it asshown in Fig. 5. The journal boxes are secured in this manner in theside frame shown in Figs. 10 to 15. Except for the difference mentioned,the side frame of these figures is folded from a flat bar or blank 1 inthe same manner as described for the preceding figures.

he journal boxes 11, 11 of Figs. 11 and 14 have pressed steel cellars 12and cast steel tops 13. The cellars 12 are made independ ent of the topsand assembled on the end portions of the tie bar sections 6, 6 below thesame. The outer ends 9, g of said sections are bent up around theoutside of the cellars and against the same. The tops 13 of the boxesare cast on the cellars and around the end sections 7, of the upper archbar 4 and the underlying portions of the lower arch bar sections 5, 5.The metal of the top 13 forms around the folded sides a, a of theseparts and partly over the tops of the end sections 7, 7 as flanges 16,16, as shown in Fig. 14. As there shown, the ends of the tie barsections 6, 6 are brought close together and extend to the tops 13 andare secured. thereto by having depending parts 14 of the tops cast aboutthe bar ends g g.

A center structure 15 of the desired form may be cast in the spacebetween the upper and lower arch bars 1, 5 and have upper flanges 17, 17extending around and over the side edges of the upper arch bar 4: anddepending flanges 18, 18 at the side edges of the lower arch barsections 5. Being cast in this manner holds the center structure inplace for the bolster and associated parts.

Instead of having both ends 9, g of the tie bar sections (i 6 on theoutside of the boxes 11, I may do as shown in Fig. 15. As thereillustrated, one section 6 of the tie bar is bent up around the outsideof the cellar l1, and the other tie bar section 6 is bent up against theinner side of the box cellar. As before, the top 13 of the boX is castto its cellar and about the ends 6, 6 to hold them in place.

The truss of my invention accomplishes the objects heretofore set forthand may be put to use where a truss of this character may be required. Ido not therefore wish to be limited to the particular use specified norto the details of structure shown and described for they may bevariously changed and modified without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A side frame for car trucks formed from a flat bar of metal andhaving upper and lower arch bars integrally connected at the ends of theside frame, the lower arch bar being brought to its position withrespect to the upper arch bar by folding the metal bar on itself at itsends where the arch bars are connected.

2. A side frame for car trucks formed from a flat bar of metal andhaving upper and lower arch bars and a tie bar, said arch bars beingintegrally connected at the ends of the side frame and the tie bar beingintegrally connected with the lower arch bar between the ends of thelatter, said tie bar being folded on the lower arch bar where connectedtherewith, and said lower arch bar being brought to its position withrespect to the upper arch bar by folding the metal bar on itself at itsends where the arch bars are connected.

3. A side frame for car trucks formed from a flat bar of metal andhaving upper and lower arch bars integrally connected at the ends of theside frame, the lower arch bar being brought to its position with respect to the upper arch bar by folding the metal bar on itself at itsends where the arch bars are connected, said upper arch bar being madeshorter than the lower arch bar during the forming of the side framefrom the metal bar.

4. A side frame for car trucks formed from a flat bar of metal andhaving upper and lower arch bars integrally connected at the ends of theside frame, the lower arch bar being brought to its position withrespect to the upper arch bar by folding the metal bar on itself at itsends where the arch bars are connected, said upper arch bar being madeshorter than the lower arch bar by upsetting the metal of the upper archbar.

5. A side frame for car trucks formed from a flat bar of metal andhaving end sections to which journal boxes may be secured, and upper andlower arch bars between and integral with said end sections, said lowerarch bar consisting of two sections side by side and brought to lowerarch bar position from opposite side of the upper arch bar by foldingthe metal bar on itself at its end sections.

6. A side frame for car trucks formed from a flat bar of metal andhaving end sections, upper and lower arch bars between and integral withsaid end sections, said lower arch bar consisting of two sections sideby side and brought to lower arch bar position from opposite sides ofthe upper arch bar by folding the metal bar on itself at its endsections, and tie bars integrally connected with the lower arch barsections between the ends thereof with one tie bar on each of saidsections and folded on the same along the line of connection therewith.

7. A truss member having its end sections folded on themselveslengthwise of said member to provide overlapping folded portions at theends thereof, and tension and compression members between and integralwith said folded portions.

8. A side frame for car trucks having its end sections folded lengthwiseof the frame to provide overla tiping fold-ed portions at the endsthereof, upper and lower arch bars between and integral with said foldedportions, and a tie bar integrally connected with the lower arch barbetween the ends thereof, said tie bar extending to and spaced from theend sections to receive journal boxes therebetween.

9. A side frame for car trucks having end sections with their marginalside portions folded toward each other under and against themid-portions of said end sections, upper and lower arch bars betweensaid end sections with the upper arch bar integral with the unfoldedmid-portions thereof, said lower arch bar consisting of two sectionsside by side and integrally joined with the folded portions of said endsections, and tie bars integrally connected with the lower arch barsections between the ends of the latter, said tie bars being foldedunder and against the lower arch bar sections where joined thereto withtheir folded edges inside and opposed, said tie bars extending to theend sections and spaced therefrom to receive journal boxes between them.

10. In an assembly of the character described, the combination of acartruck side frame made of sheet steel and having end sections, upper andlower arch bars between and integral with said end sections, andjournalboxes secured to said end sections by having their tops cast thereto.

11. In an assembly of the character de' scribed, the combination of aside frame for car trucks having end sections, upper and lower arch barsbetween and integral with said end sections, and journal boxes havingpressed steel cellars and cast tops, said tops being cast on said endsections for securing I the journal boxes thereto.

12; In an assembly of the character described, the combination of a sideframe for car trucks having end sections, upper and lower arch barsbetween and integral with said end sections, and journal boxes havingpressed steel cellars formed independent of their cast tops, said topsbeing cast to said cellars and on said end sections of the side framefor securing the boxes to said frame.

13. In an asse ably oi the character described, the combination of aside frame for car trucks having end sections, upper and lower arch barsbetween and integral with said end sections, and a tie bar carried bysaid lower arch bar and integral therewith, said tie bar having its endsspaced below said end sections, journal boxes between the end sectionsand tie bar ends, the latter engaging the bottoms of the boxes andextending up along the sides thereof toward the end sections andconnected therewith through the tops of the boxes.

14. In an assembly of the character described, the combination of a sideframe for car trucks having end sections, upper and lower arch barsbetween and integral with said end sections, and a tie bar carried bysaid lower arch bar and integral therewith,

said tie bar having its ends spaced below said end sections, journalboxes between the end sections and tie bar ends, the latter engaging thebottoms of the boxes and extending up along the sides thereof toward theend sections, said boxes being secured to said end sections and tie barends by having the tops of the boxes cast to the same.

15. In an assembly of the character described, the combination of a sideframe for car trucks having end sections, upper and lower arch barsbetween and integral with said end sections, a tie bar carried by thelower arch bar with its ends extending to and spaced below the endsections. and journal boxes between the tie bar ends and end sections,said tie bar being divided at its ends and engaging the journal boxes onopposite sides thereof and connected with the end sections of the frameat the tops of said boxes.

16. In an assembly 01 the character described, the combination of a sideframe for car trucks and having end sections, upper and lower arch barsbetween and integral with said end sections, journal boxes se cured tosaid end sections by having their tops cast thereto. and a centerstructure between the arch bars and cast thereto.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, 1 aHix mysignature this 4th day of February, 1924.

ALVIN C. MoCORD.

